The Clue · Chapter
A Talk with Miss Morton explained
Fessenden and Kitty French visit Miss Morton to question her about the burned paper.
What happens
Fessenden and Kitty French visit Miss Morton to question her about the burned paper. She confesses that it was a bundle of old love letters from Richard Van Norman, which she had retrieved and burned to protect her privacy. She explains her contradictory testimony at the inquest as a result of nervousness and fear of being suspected of murder. The conversation clears her name and also leads to a gentle push for Fessenden and Kitty's romantic relationship. Fessenden then interviews Dorothy Burt, who admits she loved Carleton and initially suspected him of the murder, but later learned he was innocent.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Confession
Miss Morton's secret burning of letters and her eventual confession to Fessenden and Kitty; Dorothy Burt's secret love for Carleton and her confession of initial suspicion.
Love and Marriage
The romantic subplot between Fessenden and Kitty advances; Miss Morton's past love for Richard Van Norman and Dorothy Burt's unrequited love for Carleton are central.
Characters to notice
- Rob Fessenden
Leads the investigation, interviews Miss Morton and later Dorothy Burt, and begins to advance his relationship with Kitty.
- Kitty French
Accompanies Fessenden to Miss Morton's, helps coax the truth from her, and receives preliminary congratulations on her romance with Rob.
- Elizabeth Morton
Reveals the burned paper was a bundle of old love letters from Richard Van Norman, which she burned to protect her privacy; explains her contradictory testimony as due to nervousness.
- Miss Burt
Confesses to Fessenden that she loved Carleton and initially suspected him of murder, but later learned he was innocent.
- Schuyler Carleton
Mentioned as having advised Dorothy Burt to speak freely; he is the object of her love and was initially suspected by her.
Key passages
“We’ve no clue but that little cachou; and as that’s no good at all, we have really nothing that can be called a clue.”
Kitty French says the only clue they have is a small cachou, which is useless, so they have no real leads.
Summarizes the lack of progress in the investigation.
“I am an idiot about such things. When questioned publicly, like that, I am so embarrassed and also so fearful that I scarcely know what I say.”
Miss Morton admits she becomes flustered and fearful under public questioning, leading to contradictory statements.
Explains her erratic testimony at the inquest.
“I thought she died by Schuyler’s hand. Yes, you may well look at me in surprise—I know it was dreadful of me to think he could have done it, but—I did think so.”
Dorothy Burt confesses that she initially suspected Schuyler Carleton of murdering Madeleine.
Reveals Dorothy's earlier suspicion and her love for Carleton.